Federation Of American Scientists -

Finishing the Race: Eliminating and Minimizing Fissile Materials and High-Risk Radioactive Sources

On March 30, at the 2016 NGO conference, “Solutions for a Secure Nuclear Future,” preceding the official Nuclear Security Summit, FAS President Charles D. Ferguson presented on the topic of reducing the risk of high-activity radioactive sources used in acts of terrorism. His thesis focuses on permanent risk reduction through development and deployment of commercially-viable alternative technologies that do not use radioactive sources. A copy of the complete presentation is available here.

LEARN MORE

Finishing the Race: Eliminating and Minimizing Fissile Materials and High-Risk Radioactive Sources

35 Nobel Laureates Call on World Leaders to Take Action on Nuclear Terrorism

In a letter dated March 26, 2016, 35 Nobel Laureates from physics, chemistry, and medicine urge national leaders attending President Obama’s fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit on March 31st to reduce the risk of nuclear or radiological terrorism to near-zero. The letter, written by Dr. Burton Burton Richter, a Nobel Laureate in physics and the Paul Pigott Professor in the Physical Sciences at Stanford University and Director Emeritus, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, and Dr. Charles Ferguson, President of FAS, and list of signees is available here.

LEARN MORE

35 Nobel Laureates Call on World Leaders to Take Action on Nuclear Terrorism

Scientist Spotlight with Dr. Rosina Bierbaum

Dr. Rosina Bierbaum is a Professor and Dean Emerita at the University of Michigan with appointments in both the School of Natural Resources and Environment, and the School of Public Health. This month, she took on the additional role as the Roy F. Weston Chair in Natural Economics at the Public Policy School at the University of Maryland. Her experience extends from climate science into foreign relations and international development.

LEARN MORE

Scientist Spotlight with Dr. Rosina Bierbaum

Suggestions about Japan’s Nuclear Fuel Recycling Policy Based on U.S. Concerns

To date, Japan’s peaceful nuclear energy use has taken the form of a nuclear fuel recycling policy that reprocesses spent fuel and effectively utilizes the plutonium retrieved in light water reactors (LWRs) and fast reactors (FRs). However, Japan presently seems to have issues regarding its recycling policy and plutonium management and, because of recent increasing risks of terrorism and nuclear proliferation in the world, the international community seeks much more secure use of nuclear energy. Yusei Nagata, an FAS Research Fellow from MEXT, Japan, analyzes U.S. experts’ opinions and concerns about Japan’s problem and considers what Japan can (and should) do to solve it.

LEARN MORE

Suggestions about Japan’s Nuclear Fuel Recycling Policy Based on U.S. Concerns

Issues

Government Secrecy

Nuclear Weapons

Nonproliferation & Counterproliferation

Nuclear & Radiological Terrorism

Biological, Chemical, & Other Non-Nuclear Threats

Energy, Environment, & Resources

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Please enter your information below to receive updates on FAS research, reports and news.

Looking for Secrecy News?

Read it here

About FAS

FAS works to provide science-based analysis of catastrophic threats to national and international security and to develop policy solutions to reduce these threats. FAS experts examine issues related to nuclear weapons policy, disarmament, nuclear energy, radiological and nuclear terrorism, energy security, chemical and biological weapons and government secrecy policy.

Learn more

FAS Experts

FAS staff and affiliates come from a variety of scientific and academic backgrounds. With professional experience in aeronautical engineering, biology, environmental science, government, physics, nuclear engineering, law, and political science, our experts work to provide technical and skilled analysis on a variety of catastrophic threats to security.

Learn more

Become A Member

Join leading members of foreign policy and national security communities devoted to solving vexing security threats at the nexus of science and policy.

Join Now

Recent Publications

Suggestions about Japan’s Nuclear Fuel Recycling Policy Based on U.S. Concerns

By FAS | March 23, 2016

In this issue brief, Yusei Nagata, an FAS Research Fellow from MEXT, Japan, analyzes U.S. experts’ opinions and concerns about Japan’s nuclear fuel recycling problem and considers what Japan can (and should) do to solve it.

All Publications

Upcoming Events

Finishing the Race: Eliminating and Minimizing Fissile Materials and High-Risk Radioactive Sources

On March 30, at the 2016 NGO conference, “Solutions for a Secure Nuclear Future” (www.ssnf2016.org) preceding the official Nuclear Security Summit, FAS President Charles D. Ferguson presented on the topic of reducing the risk of high-activity radioacti …

Briefing and Report Release: Naval Nuclear Reactors and Use of Highly Enriched Uranium

Friday, March 20, 2015 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Russell Senate Office Building, Room 385 Washington, DC The United States and other countries with nuclear navies have benefited from having nuclear-powered warships. But do the continued benefits depend on i …

Luncheon Briefing on Advanced Nuclear Reactors

Luncheon Briefing: Making the Next Step Forward with Advanced Nuclear Reactors: Assessing Progress and Overcoming Roadblocks on Safety, Technology and Policy Thursday, July 24, 2014 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-31 …

All Events

Latest Tweets

Join The Conversation